Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-01-14
MAN FROZEN To DEATH.
TWO FRIENDS GO FISHING AT
MERRYMEETING POND.
George leighton Buried I'm a Snow Drift,
but ReScued--He Dies from Exposure,
Murmuring One Word "Wife.'

Adespatch from Dover, n, H, January 8,
says: 81 am dying with cold" said George
Leighton to his friend, Fred MaoIntyre, on
Merrymeeting pond, Thursday afternoon.
They left Pennington in the morning for a
days fishing on the pond, and had been
very successful. At noon they
ate their lunch together aud
cracked Jokes fully half an hour, then
separated to tend their lines About 2 o'clock
the blizzard which swept this section came
down over the mountains, carrying the
mercury down below zero in hurry. The
wind blew terrible blast, the snow cut them
like knife, and it was o'clock before they
got together their traps and started for the
foot of the pond, a distance of two miles,
ManTully they staggered sonward, suffering
with the cold Before they had travelled
half mile Leighton complained of the cold
and fell exhausted five times. MacIntyre.
although very cold. generously teok
of big heavy muffier and wrapped it
around his companions neck and head.
Again he urged him forward, but it, was no
use. Leighton fell and could not be raised
again. He realized that he was dying and
gave MacIntyre a message to his wife and
child at Pennington. MacIntyre then doffed
his heavy overcoat and throwing it over his
companion, covered him with snow, making
a high pile, and then, with sorrowing heart,
half had to be covered before he could pos
sibly reach assistance, and looking at his
watch, which showed 4.35, he started for
ward. The binding snow, the bitter cold
and the uncertain steps made the trip any
thing but a pleasant one He thinks he
must have fallen twenty times before he
reached the powder mills, at o'clock, where
he fell exhausted, and it was over an hour be-
fore he was able to talk to those about him.
He told of his companion left on the ice,
who might then be dead A relief party con-
listing of twenty men at the mills was Or
ganized, big sled provided, plenty of spir-
It's and extra clothes taken, and the party
set out at o'clock. One by one the men
dropped behind the main party, suffering
with the cold. Along the head of the column
moved until at H. 45, the big mound of snow
which now had increased to
mammoth drift nearly half mile long, was
found and search made After half an hour
their labors were rewarded. Leighton was
found alive but insensible He was taken up
and spirits were administered. Wrapping
the body i'll extra blankets, they started on
their return journey, reaching the mills g.
little after 2 o'clock. A medical man
had been secured to care y fer
MacIntyre, and was present when the stiff
body of Leighton was brought in, but he
was beyond help Opening his eyes, his look
rested upon his companion seated in big
and taking up Leighton's hand,
which was stiff with cold, the
frozen man gave him a CRATE
full look, murmured the word "wife" and
closed his eyes, dying in few minutes. He
was a man universally respected, and a
thorough workman. Mac1ntyre had his
feet, hands, arms and face badly frozen, but
will survive the terrible ordeal through which
he passed. Not a man of tho relief party
escaped without being frost-bitten.